Two-way backlight assembly and two-way liquid crystal display apparatus having the same

ABSTRACT

In a two-way backlight assembly and a two-way LCD apparatus, the two-way backlight assembly provides light emitted from one light source to a first direction where a main LCD panel is placed and to a second direction where a sub LCD panel is placed. Also, a sub mold part for receiving the sub LCD panel comprises a black-colored material so as to prevent reflection of the light. Accordingly, thickness and power consumption of the backlight assembly may be reduced and display quality may be also improved by preventing leakage of the light at ends of the sub LCD panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/926,651 filed on Oct. 29, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,527,417, which isa continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/326,197 filed on Jan. 5,2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,918, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/679,400 filed on Oct. 7, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No.7,001,059, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean PatentApplication No. 2003-42007 filed on Jun. 26, 2003, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a two-way backlight assembly and atwo-way liquid crystal display apparatus (LCD) having the same, and moreparticularly to a two-way backlight assembly capable of displaying animage information in two directions opposite to each other and a two-wayLCD apparatus having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, an LCD apparatus, generally, displays an image using liquidcrystal having a light transmittance varied in accordance with anintensity of an electric field.

An LCD apparatus having various characteristics, for example, such as asmall size, low power consumption, a high resolution, etc., is widelyapplied to electronic instruments, for example, such as a notebookcomputer, a monitor, a mobile communication system and so on.

An LCD apparatus, usually, displays an image in one-way. However, arelated technology to an LCD apparatus capable of displaying an image intwo-way has been developed.

The LCD apparatus capable of displaying the image in two-way, ingeneral, includes a main LCD panel for displaying a main image, a mainbacklight assembly for supplying light to the main LCD panel, a sub LCDpanel for displaying a sub image and a sub backlight assembly forsupplying light to the sub LCD panel.

Each of the main and sub backlight assemblies includes a light sourcefor emitting the light, a light guide plate for changing a path of thelight, a reflection plate for reflecting the light, and a receivingcontainer for receiving the light source, light guide plate andreflection plate.

The main and sub backlight assemblies are manufactured as a moduleseparated from each other and coupled to each other while the main andsub backlight assemblies are applied to the LCD apparatus so as tosupply the light to the main and sub LCD panels, respectively.

However, when the main and sub backlight assemblies manufactured as theseparated module are applied to the LCD apparatus, an entire thicknessof the LCD apparatus may increase. Also, since the LCD apparatus has twolight sources, two reflection plates and two receiving containersapplied to the main and sub backlight assemblies, a power consumptionand a cost of manufacture of the LCD apparatus may also increase.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a two-way backlight assembly capable ofsupplying light in two directions different from each other.

The present invention provides a two-way LCD apparatus having the abovetwo-way backlight assembly.

In one aspect of the invention, a two-way backlight assembly includes alight source generating light, a main mold part receiving the lightsource and a light guide plate, a light-amount control sheet, areceiving container and sub mold part.

The light guide plate provides the light from the light source to afirst exit surface and a second exit surface facing the first exitsurface. The light-amount control sheet is disposed on the second exitsurface so as to partially reflect or transmit the light from the secondexit surface.

The receiving container is combined with the main mold part so as to fixthe light-amount control sheet to the main mold part, and it has anopening through which the light is transmitted.

The sub mold part has a size equal to a size of the opening of thereceiving container and is coupled to a rear surface of the receivingcontainer. The sub mold part comprises a black-colored and/or a flatmaterial.

The two-way backlight assembly further includes a first optical sheetdisposed on the first exit surface so as to improve brightness of thelight and a second optical sheet disposed on the opening and fixed bymeans of the sub mold part.

In another aspect of the invention, a two-way LCD apparatus includes amain backlight assembly, a sub backlight assembly, a main LCD panelassembly and a sub LCD panel assembly.

The main backlight assembly includes a light source generating light, alight guide part guiding the light from the light source to a firstdirection and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and amain mold part receiving the light source and the light guide part;

The sub backlight assembly is disposed in the second direction. The subbacklight assembly includes a first optical sheet improving opticalproperties of the light exited to the second direction and a sub moldpart fixing the first optical sheet to the main mold part;

The main LCD panel assembly is disposed on the main backlight assemblyto display a main image using the light provided from the main backlightassembly.

The sub LCD panel assembly is disposed on the sub backlight assembly todisplay a sub image using the light provided from the sub backlightassembly.

According to the two-way backlight assembly and the two-way LCDapparatus having same, the two-way LCD apparatus may provide the lightto two directions different from each other using only one light source,thereby reducing thickness and power consumption of the backlightassembly.

Also, the LCD apparatus may prevent leakage of the light through theends of the sub mold part because the sub mold part may comprise theblack-colored or/and flat material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a two-way backlight assemblyaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the two-way backlightassembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the main mold part shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the sub mold part combined with thereceiving container shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the sub mold part shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a light-leaking phenomenon ofthe two-way backlight assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D′ of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a two-way backlight assemblyaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the two-way backlightassembly shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing an LCD apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the main LCD panel assembly shownin FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a two-way backlight assemblyaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a two-way backlight assembly 100 includes a lightsource 110 for generating light, a light guide plate 120 for changing apath of the light, a reflection/transmission sheet 130, a first opticalsheet 140 and a second optical sheet 150.

The light guide plate 120 includes a first exit surface 122 and a secondexit surface 124 facing the first exit surface 122. The light guideplate 120 receives the light emitted from the light source 110 andoutputs the received light through the first and second exit surfaces122 and 124. That is, the light guide plate 120 changes the light, forexample, such as a point light source, a line light source, etc.,emitted from the light source into a surface light source to exit thechanged light through the first and second exit surfaces 122 and 124.

The reflection/transmission sheet 130 is disposed on the second exitsurface 124 of the light guide plate 120. The reflection/transmissionsheet 130 reflects a portion of the light exited through the second exitsurface 124 to the first exit surface 122 and transmits a remainingportion of the light exited through the second exit surface 124.

The reflection/transmission sheet 130 may have a sheet shape formed byfoaming polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET) or a plate shape. Byadjusting a thickness of the reflection/transmission sheet 130, anamount of the reflected light from the reflection/transmission sheet 130to the first exit surface 122 of the light guide plate 120 and an amountof the transmitted light through the reflection/transmission sheet 130may be adjusted.

In this exemplary embodiment, the reflection/transmission sheet 130 isformed by foaming the PET. However, the reflection/transmission sheet130 may be formed using any material that partially reflects andtransmits the light.

A first optical sheet 140 is disposed on the first exit surface 122 ofthe light guide plate 120 and a second optical sheet 150 is disposed onthe reflection/transmission sheet 130. In order to improve opticalproperties of the light exited through the first exit surface 122 of thelight guide plate 120, the first optical sheet 140 includes a diffusionsheet for diffusing the light from the first exit surface 122 and atleast one prism sheet. The second optical sheet 150 also includes adiffusion sheet and at least one prism sheet so as to improve brightnessof the light exited through the reflection/transmission sheet 130.

In this exemplary embodiment, the second optical sheet 150 has a smallersize than that of the reflection/transmission sheet 130 and is placed ata center portion of the reflection/transmission sheet 130. The secondoptical sheet 150 may also have a same size as that of thereflection/transmission sheet 130.

As shown in FIG. 1, although the two-way backlight assembly 100according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includesone light source 110, one light guide plate 120 and onereflection/transmission sheet 130, the two-way backlight assembly 100may supply the light emitted from the light source 110 to two directionsdifferent from each other.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the two-way backlightassembly shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the two-way backlight assembly 100 further includesa main mold part 210 for receiving the light source 110 and light guideplate 120, a receiving container 220 for fixing the light guide plate120 and reflection/transmission sheet 130 to the main mold part 210 anda sub mold part 230 for fixing the second optical sheet 150.

Particularly, the light guide plate 120 and reflection/transmissionsheet 130 are successively received into the main mold part 210. Themain mold part 210 is combined with the receiving container 220, therebyfixing the light guide plate 120 and reflection/transmission sheet 130to the main mold part 210. Also, the main mold part 210 further providesa separate receiving space so as to receive the light source 110. Whenthe light source 110 is received into the separate receiving space, aflexible printed circuit board (FPC) 240 is received into the separatereceiving space so as to apply a driving power source to the lightsource 110.

For the light source 110, at least one light emitting diode (LED) orcold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) may be used. The FPC 240 iselectrically connected to the light source 110, and applies the drivingpower source externally provided to the light source 110.

The receiving container 220 is provided with an opening 224 formed at abottom surface thereof, so that the light from thereflection/transmission sheet 130 may be provided to the second opticalsheet 150 through the opening 224. The second optical sheet 150 isoutwardly disposed on the opening 224 of the receiving container 220,and the sub mold part 230 is coupled to the opening 224 so as to fix thesecond optical sheet 150 to the receiving container 220.

As aforementioned above, the two-way backlight assembly 100 may supplytwo lights in two directions different from each other. One of the twolights is exited through the first exit surface 122 and first opticalsheet 140, and it is supplied to a first direction. Another one of thetwo lights is exited through the second exit surface 124,reflection/transmission sheet 130 and opening 224 and supplied to asecond direction opposite to the first direction.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the main mold part shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the main mold part 210 includes first, second,third and fourth sidewalls 211, 212, 213 and 214 and the receivingspace. The receiving space formed adjacent to the first sidewall 211receives the light source 110 and FPC 240. For a steady receiving of thefirst optical sheet 140, the second sidewall 212 opposite to the firstsidewall 211 and the third sidewall 213 connecting between the first andsecond sidewalls 211 and 212 have a thickness thicker than that of thefirst and fourth sidewalls 211 and 214.

Hereinafter, the first sidewall 211 of the main mold part 210 will bedescribed in detail.

The first sidewall 211 of the main mold part 210 includes a withdrawnportion 216, a protruded portion 217, a recessed portion 218 and abarrier wall 219.

The withdrawn portion 216 is formed by partially cutting away an upperportion of the first sidewall 211, and has a depth suitable forwithdrawing a signal line (not shown) connected to the FPC 240. Thesignal line outwardly withdrawn through the withdrawn portion 216provides a driving power source that is externally provided to the FPC240, and the FPC 240 provides a predetermined power source to the lightsource 110.

The protruded portion 217 is inwardly protruded from an inner wall ofthe first sidewall 211 toward the barrier wall 219 to support the FPC240 disposed thereon. In this exemplary embodiment, the main mold part210 includes a plurality of protruded portions spaced apart from eachother and located at the recessed portion 218, and the light source 110is disposed between the protruded portions. The protruded portion 217has a length substantially equal to that of the light source 110.

The recessed portion 218 is formed between the protruded portions so asto receive the light source, for example, such as a light emitting diodeor the like.

The barrier wall 219 is spaced apart from the protruded portion 217 in apredetermined distance, and is substantially parallel to the firstsidewall 211. The barrier wall 219 supports the FPC 240 disposedthereon, and fixes the light guide plate 120 disposed thereunder.

The main mold part 210 is combined with the receiving container 220using engaging portions 211 a, 212 a, 213 a, 213 b, 214 a and 214 bformed with first, second, third and fourth sidewalls 211, 212, 213 and214.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the sub mold part combined with thereceiving container shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a perspective viewshowing the sub mold part shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the receiving container 220 is provided withthe opening 224 formed at the bottom surface thereof, and it is combinedwith the sub mold part 230 using protrusions 226 formed at ends of theopening 224. Also, the receiving container 220 is provided with engagingmembers 228 formed at four sidewalls thereof so as to be combined withthe main mold part 210. Each of the engaging members 228 is providedwith an opening formed by cutting away a center portion thereof.

The openings of the engaging members 228 are engaged to the engagingportions 211 a, 212 a, 213 a, 213 b, 214 a and 214 b, respectively, sothat the receiving container 220 is combined with the main mold part210.

The second optical sheet 150 has a size substantially equal to that ofthe opening 224 of the receiving container 220, and is disposed at aposition corresponding to the opening 224. In this exemplary embodiment,the second optical sheet 150 includes the diffusion sheet and at leastone prism sheet so as to improve optical properties of the light exitedthrough the second exit surface 124 and supplied to the seconddirection.

Particularly, the diffusion sheet diffuses the light provided from thereflection/transmission sheet 130 and outputs through the opening 224 ofthe receiving container 220 such that the light exited through theopening 224 of the receiving container 220 has a uniform brightnessdistribution.

In this exemplary embodiment, the prism sheet is disposed on thediffusion sheet and narrows a viewing angle of the light provided fromthe diffusion sheet, thereby enhancing luminance of the light.

In order to fix the second optical sheet 150 to the opening of thereceiving container 220, the sub mold part 230 is combined with thereceiving container 220.

The sub mold part 230 has a rectangular-shaped frame having fifth,sixth, seventh and eighth sidewalls 231, 233, 235 and 237. The fourth,sixth, seventh and eighth sidewalls 231, 233, 235 and 237 are providedwith engaging recesses 232, respectively to be engaged to theprotrusions 226 formed at the ends of the opening 224 of the receivingcontainer 220.

Particularly, the engaging recesses 232 are formed by inwardly recessingouter surfaces of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth sidewalls 231,233, 235 and 237. Thus, when the protrusions 226 of the receivingcontainer 220 are engaged into the engaging recesses 232 of the sub moldpart 230 after the second optical sheet 150 is disposed at the positioncorresponding to the opening 224 of the receiving container 220, thesecond optical sheet 150 and sub mold part 230 are fixed to thereceiving container 220.

The sub mold part 230 further includes a fixing member 234 inwardlyformed at the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth sidewalls 231, 233, 235and 237 of the sub mold part 230. The fixing member 234 may preventdeviation of the second optical sheet 150 therefrom, and guide a sub LCDpanel assembly (not shown).

However, in case that an area through which the light is exited to thefirst direction is greater than an area through which the light isexited to the second direction, the light exited to the second directionmay be leaked through ends of the sub mold part 230. As a result, thebacklight assembly 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention may not provide an image having uniformed brightness.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a light-leaking phenomenon ofthe two-way backlight assembly shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is across-sectional view taken along the line D-D′ of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the sub mold part 230 is installed on thecenter portion of the receiving container 220 so as to provide the lightto the second direction. Thus, the light exited through the second exitsurface 124 of the light guide plate 120 is exited through the centerportion on which the sub mold part 230 is disposed after transmittingthe reflection/transmission sheet 130.

If the sub mold part 230 comprises a white-colored or a glossy material,the light provided to the sub mold part 230 may be reflected from anarea “A” adjacent to the fifth sidewall 231 of the sub mold part 230, anarea “B” adjacent to the sixth sidewall 233 and an area “C” adjacent tothe seventh sidewall 235.

Accordingly, in order to prevent a reflection of the light from the endsof the sub mold part 230, the sub mold part 230 may comprise ablack-colored or a flat material.

Also, the two-way backlight assembly 100 may further include ablack-colored tape 240 adhered to positions on which the fifth, sixth,seventh and eighth sidewalls 231, 233, 235 and 237 are disposed.

Particularly, the black-colored tape 240 is partially disposed betweenthe reflection/transmission sheet 130 and the fifth, sixth, seventh andeighth sidewalls 231, 233, 235 and 237 of the sub mold part 230. Theblack-colored tape 240 intercepts a light advancing towards the fifth,sixth, seventh and eighth sidewalls 231, 233, 235 and 237 of the submold part 230 among the light exited to the second direction, therebypreventing leakage of the light at the ends of the sub mold part 230.

As described above, the two-way backlight assembly 100 according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention may supply the lightemitted from the light source 110 to two directions different from eachother using one light source 110 and one light guide plate 120. Inaddition, since the sub mold part 230 comprises the black-colored orflat material, the two-way backlight assembly 100 may prevent theleakage of the light at the ends of the sub mold part 230.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a two-way backlight assemblyaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 8, the same reference numerals denote the same elements in FIG. 1,and thus the detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 8, a backlight assembly 400 according to anotherexemplary embodiment includes a light source 110, a light guide part 440for changing a path of the light from the light source 110, a firstoptical sheet 140 and a second optical sheet 150.

The light guide part 440 includes a first light guide plate 410, asecond light guide plate 420, and a reflection plate 430 disposedbetween the first and second light guide plates 410 and 420.

Particularly, a portion of the light emitted from the light source 110is incident on the first light guide plate 410 and a remaining portionof the light emitted from the light source 110 is incident on the secondlight guide plate 420. The first light guide plate 410 includes a firstlight exit surface 412 facing the first optical sheet 140 and a firstlight reflection surface 414 facing the reflection plate 430. The secondlight guide plate 420 also includes a second light exit surface 422facing the second optical sheet 150 and a second light reflectionsurface 424 facing the reflection plate 430.

A great portion of the light emitted from the light source 110 andincident on the first light guide plate 410 is directly exited throughthe first light exit surface 412, and a remaining portion of the lightis exited through the first light exit surface 412 after reflecting fromthe reflection plate 430. Similarly, a great portion of the lightemitted from the light source 110 and incident on the second light guideplate 420 is directly exited through the second light exit surface 422,and a remaining portion of the light is exited through the second lightexit surface 422 after reflecting from the reflection plate 430.

The second light guide plate 420 may have a size equal to or differentfrom a size of the first light guide plate 410. In this exemplaryembodiment, the second light guide plate 420 has a smaller size thanthat of the first light guide plate 410. Also, an incident surface 426of the second light guide plate 420, on which the light emitted from thelight source 110 is incident, is straight with an incident surface 416of the first light guide plate 410.

The two-way backlight assembly 100 according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention may supply the light emitted fromthe light source 110 to two directions different from each other byusing one light source 110, two light guide plates 410 and 420 and onereflection/transmission sheet 430.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the two-way backlightassembly shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 9, the two-way backlight assembly 400 includes thelight source 110, the light guide part 440 for supplying the lightemitted from the light source 110 to two directions different from eachother, a main mold part 210 for receiving the light source 110 and lightguide part 440, a receiving container 220 and a sub mold part 230.

The light guide part 440 includes the first light guide plate 410,second light guide plate 420 and reflection plate 430 disposed betweenthe first and second light guide plates 410 and 420.

Particularly, the light emitted from the light source 110 is incident onthe first and second light guide plates 410 and 420. In this exemplaryembodiment, since the reflection plate 430 is disposed between the firstand second light guide plates 410 and 420, the light incident on thefirst light guide plate 410 is reflected from the reflection plate 430towards the first light exit surface 412, and the light incident on thesecond light guide plate 420 is reflected from the reflection plate 430towards the second exit surface 422. Thus, the light incident on thefirst light guide plate 410 is provided to the first direction throughthe first light exit surface 412, and the light incident on the secondlight guide plate 420 is provided to the second direction opposite tothe first direction through the second light exit surface 422.

The light guide part 440 is disposed between the main mold part 210 andreceiving container 220.

The receiving container 220 is provided with an opening 224 formed at abottom surface 222 corresponding to the second light guide plate 420, sothat the light exited through the second exit surface 422 of the secondlight guide plate 420 may be provided to the second direction throughthe opening 224. The opening 224 is placed at a position adjacent to thelight source 110 so as to allow the light emitted from the light source110 to be easily incident on the second light guide plate 420.

In order to prevent leakage of the light at ends of the sub mold part230, the sub mold part 230 coupled to the opening 224 of the receivingcontainer 220 may comprise a black-colored or/and a flat material. Also,the two-way backlight assembly 100 may further include a black-coloredtape disposed between a sidewall of the sub mold part 230 and secondlight guide plate 420, thereby preventing leakage of the light throughthe ends of the sub mold part 230.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing an LCD apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.10, the same reference numerals denote the same elements in FIG. 2, andthus the detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 10, an LCD apparatus 600 includes a main LCD panelassembly 610, a sub LCD panel assembly 620 and a two-way backlightassembly 100.

The two-way backlight assembly 100 includes a main backlight assembly630 and a sub backlight assembly 640.

The main LCD panel assembly 610 is disposed on the main backlightassembly 630. The main LCD panel assembly 610 receives a light suppliedto a first direction through a first exit surface 122 of a light guideplate 120 and a first optical sheet 140, and displays a main image.

The sub LCD panel assembly 620 is disposed on the sub backlight assembly640. The sub LCD panel assembly 640 receives a light supplied to asecond direction through a second exit surface 124 of a light guideplate 120, a reflection/transmission sheet 130 and a second opticalsheet 150, and displays a sub image.

The main LCD panel assembly 610 may have a display size equal to that ofthe sub LCD panel assembly 620. However, in this exemplary embodiment,the main LCD panel assembly 610 has the display size greater than thatof the sub LCD panel assembly 620.

In case that the display size of the sub LCD panel assembly 620 issmaller than the display size of the main LCD panel assembly 610, thelight provided to the sub mold assembly 230 may be leaked at ends of thesub mold part 230. As a result, the two-way LCD apparatus 600 may notprovide an image having uniformed brightness.

In order to prevent leakage of the light through ends of the sub moldpart 230, the sub mold part 230 may comprise a black-colored or/and aflat material. Also, the two-way LCD apparatus 600 may further include ablack-colored tape disposed between a sidewall of the sub mold part 230and reflection/transmission sheet 130, thereby preventing leakage of thelight through the ends of the sub mold part 230.

The two-way LCD apparatus 600 may further include a main chassis 650 forpreventing deviation of the main LCD panel assembly 610 from the mainbacklight assembly 630 and a sub chassis 660 for preventing deviation ofthe sub LCD panel assembly 640 from the sub backlight assembly 640. Themain chassis 650 and sub chassis 660 are combined with the main moldpart 210 and receiving container 220, respectively, so as to preventdeviation of the main and sub LCD panel assemblies 610 and 620.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the main LCD panel assembly shownin FIG. 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the sub LCD panel assembly 620has same elements as those of the main LCD panel assembly 610, and thusa detailed description of the sub LCD panel assembly 620 will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 11, the main LCD panel assembly 610 includes an LCDpanel 614, a driving chip 616 and an FPC 618.

The LCD panel 614 includes a first substrate 611, a second substrate 612facing the first substrate 611 and liquid crystal (not shown) disposedbetween the first and second substrates 611 and 612.

Particularly, a plurality of pixels is formed on the second substrate612 in a matrix configuration. Each of the pixels is provided with agate line extended in a first direction and a data line. The data lineis insulated from the gate line, and extended in a second directionsubstantially perpendicular to the first direction. A thin filmtransistor (TFT) is formed at a pixel area defined by the gate and datalines, and electrically connected to the gate and data lines.

The second substrate 612 includes the driving chip 616 formed on one endthereof so as to apply a driving signal to the gate and data lines. Thedriving chip 616 may include a data line chip and a gate line chipseparated from each other, and the data line chip and gate line chip maybe packed into one chip. The driving chip 616 is mounted on the end ofthe second substrate 612 through Chip-On-Glass process (COG).

The FPC 618 is further attached to the end of the second substrate 612so as to apply a control signal for controlling the driving chip 616.The FPC 618 may further include a timing controller for controlling atiming of the driving signal applied to the gate line and a memory forstoring a data signal. The FPC 618 is electrically connected to thesecond substrate 612 by means of an anisotropic conductive film.

The two-way LCD apparatus 600 according to another exemplary embodimentof the present invention may supply the light to the first and seconddirections different from each other using the two-way backlightassembly 100 having one light source 110, one light guide plate 120 andreflection/transmission sheet 130. The light supplied to the firstdirection is provided to the main LCD panel assembly 610 and the lightsupplied to the second direction is provided to the sub LCD panelassembly 620, so that the main and sub LCD panel assemblies 610 and 620may display the main and sub images, respectively.

According to the two-way backlight assembly and two-way LCD apparatushaving the same, the two-way LCD apparatus may provide the light to twodirections different from each other using only one light source,thereby reducing thickness and power consumption of the backlightassembly.

Also, although the display size of the main LCD panel assembly isdifferent from the display size of the sub LCD panel assembly, the LCDapparatus may prevent leakage of the light through the ends of the submold part because the sub mold part may comprise the black-coloredor/and flat material.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it is understood that the present invention should not belimited to these exemplary embodiments, but various changes andmodifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within thespirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A backlight assembly comprising: a light source generating light; alight guide part including a first exit surface and a second exitsurface opposite to the first exit surface, the light guide partreceiving the light from the light source and emitting the receivedlight through the first and second exit surfaces; a receiving containerreceiving the light source and light guide part, wherein the receivingcontainer includes an opening; and a leakage preventing member disposedaround the opening to prevent a leakage of the light.
 2. The backlightassembly of claim 1, wherein the receiving container comprises aprotruding portion formed at one end of the opening.
 3. The backlightassembly of claim 2, wherein the leakage preventing member contacts aside of the protruding portion.
 4. The backlight assembly of claim 2,wherein the leakage preventing member comprises a black-colored tape. 5.The backlight assembly of claim 2, further comprising areflection/transmission sheet disposed on the second exit surface of thelight guide part.
 6. The backlight assembly of claim 2, wherein theleakage preventing member comprises a mold part including an engagingrecess corresponding to the protruding portion, the mold part comprisinga flat material to prevent a reflection of light.
 7. The backlightassembly of claim 2, wherein the leakage preventing member comprises amold part including an engaging recess corresponding to the protrudingportion, the mold part comprising a black-colored material to prevent areflection of light.
 8. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein theleakage preventing member comprises a black-colored material.
 9. Thebacklight assembly of claim 1, wherein the leakage preventing membercomprises a flat material.
 10. The backlight assembly of claim 1,wherein the light guide part comprises a first light guide plateincluding the first exit surface and a second light guide plateincluding the second exit surface.
 11. The backlight assembly of claim10, wherein the light guide part further comprises a reflection platedisposed between the first and second light guide plates.
 12. A liquidcrystal display apparatus comprising: a light source; a light guide partincluding a first exit surface and a second exit surface opposite to thefirst exit surface; a first liquid crystal display panel assemblydisposed over the first exit surface of the light guide part; areceiving container receiving the light source, the light guide part,and the first liquid crystal display panel assembly, wherein thereceiving container includes an opening; a second liquid crystal displaypanel assembly disposed below the opening; and a leakage preventingmember disposed around the opening to prevent a leakage of the light.13. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 12, wherein theleakage preventing member comprises a portion overlapping with the lightguide part and the first and second liquid crystal display panelassembly in a vertical direction.
 14. The liquid crystal displayapparatus of claim 12, wherein the receiving container comprises aprotruding portion formed at one end of the opening.
 15. The liquidcrystal display apparatus of claim 14, wherein the leakage preventingmember contacts a side of the protruding portion.
 16. The liquid crystaldisplay apparatus of claim 14, further comprising areflection/transmission sheet disposed on the second exit surface of thelight guide part.
 17. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 12,further comprising a mold part coupled to the receiving container,wherein the mold part includes a plurality of sidewalls corresponding tothe opening.
 18. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 17,wherein the leakage preventing member is partially disposed between thelight guide part and the plurality of sidewalls.
 19. The liquid crystaldisplay apparatus of claim 12, wherein the leakage preventing membercomprises a black-colored material.
 20. The liquid crystal displayapparatus of claim 12, wherein the leakage preventing member comprises aflat material.